The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-04
The Well at Brightwuod Shot," and Proves
to be Nuch-Sought Gushsr.
Thousands OF People Go to the Suburb to
See the Important Discovery.
All Doubts Removed to Contents of the
Earth ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ell.
cited Over the "Find."
BRIGHrwOOD ABLAZE.
The Little Suburb the Proud Preseason
of a Natural Gas Find.


A dull thud, arumbling sound, a trem-
bling of the earth beneath, the rat
Ting of windows, the shaking of
buildings and the swaying of
trees in the vicinity of Brightwood
announced that something unusual was
going on yesterday afternoon. AS people
looked they could see a great volume of
water issuing from the earth and rising
above IL more than 100 feet, stones flying
in the air, and a crowd standing near by
yelling themselves hoarse with enthusiasm
and excitement.
Gas had been struck.
A hundred quarts of nitro glycerine had
been exploded thousand feet beneath the
earth's surface. The gas well had been
shot; the hopes of the people had been re-
allied, and Brightwood shone forth in
dazzling brilliancy.
Indianapolis is in the great gas belt and
beneath her soil the long-hidden treasure
has magnificent, and, from all indicationsT
an exhaustless bed of supply.
As early as 10 o'clock yesterday morning
people began to gather about the Bright
wood well, and by noon large crowd had
congregated. No less than 500 anxious, en-
thusiastic citizens were on the grounds
at o'clock, when everything was in read
iness to ''shoot." The first thing done
was to lower five shells of nitro
glycerine. Each shell contained twen-
ty quarts, so that 100 quarts
were used in all. The shells were care
fully let down the castings of the we'll with
rope, the casing pipe being six inches in
diameter and the shells five inches. As
soon as they were lowered all was in readi-
ness for the necessary conclusion, which
was to decide in measure whether Indian
opolis was to have natural gas or no.
1t was Just about o'clock when the "go
devil" which is a piece with three prongs
and weighing about five pounds, was let
go. The second it dropped everybody near
the derrick rushed back 100 yards or more.
After waiting a moment it became
evident that the messenger of destruction
had not done its work. AS quick as posi-
cle tin squib filled with glycerine was
prepared and started down the pipes to-
ward the shells, which were stationed $50
feet below. 1t was at this depth that the
indications for gas were discovered when the
boring was in progress.
From the time the tin t1be was dropped
il was but about fifty seconds until the
earth began 10 tremble and a sort of a
rumbliug sensation followed. The crowd
then made grand rush for
The mouth OF the well. Within a
few succeeding seconds good sized col
umn of water began to show itself. At
first nothing could be discovered but water
and stones. Finally it was found that
considerable quantity Of oil was oozing out
Of the castings. This fact strengthened the
belief II I gas was there. As soon as the
volume of water began to decrease evil
deDces of gas were developed.
In fifteen minutes from the time the
well was shot, piece of paper was lighted,
attached to a pole and held over the
mouth of the well, and to the grand de-
light Of everybody, the mystery was solved.
As quick as fash, the flames shot into
the air fu ly twelve feet, and the crowd
went wild with enthusiasm. The blaze, as
it issued from the sixinch casing, became
constantly tsropger, and at one time burned
about fifteen feet high, and it only begun
to grow less when drowned by the water.
The news that gas had been struck soon
reached the city, and at o'clock 1t was
estimated that fully 1900 people had seen
Indianapolis first supply of natural gas.
At o'clock last night, when the Sentinel
representative left Brightwood, fully 500
people were still there. Men stood gazing
at the bright, clear blaze as it shot into the
air six feet or more, and beautifully illumin-
ated the space around for a distance Of
several hundred yards in every direction.
The well is located about quarter Of a
mile north of Brightwood and only about
five squares from the line of the Bse Line
Railroad, and Just of from what is known
as Brightwood avenue. The ground was
owned by ID. n. Wiles until the organ
ization of the Capital City Natural
Gas Company, when all of the
stockholders of the organiza ton become
interested. The mouth OF the wei is
located on the south side of q small knoll
which is not more than 100 yards north of
the nearest house. The tract is a beautiful
commons and contains probably seven or
eight acres. Just north OF the well is q
grove of beach and maple trees; just down
the little hill 100 feet south from the well
is a ditch filed with water.
1t is evident that every prepa ration had
been made 70 find gas if possible sub
stantlal eDgine.house and pipe building
had been erected and every convenience
supplied to do the work successfully. 1t
was gala day for Brightwood and proba-
bly, nevts in its history did 1t have 30
many visitors.
About the last man to leave last night
was Mr.. d. II. Wiles, the president Of the
company.
What have you to say9" asked the Sen
tinel.
.s'0h, 1 hardly know what to say. It Ia